Marshall S. White

The effect of pallet connection stiffness, deck stiffness and static load level on the resonant response of pallet decks to vibration frequencies occurring in the distribution environment

This paper summarizes the results of a preliminary study of the relationship between pallet design and the resonant response of pallet decks to sinusoidal vibration. Sine sweep frequency vibration tests between 3 Hz and 50 Hz were conducted to determine the effect of pallet deckboard stiffness, joint stiffness and the static load level on the resonant response of pallet decks. As the stiffness of the pallet joints and deckboards increases, the resonant frequency of the unit load increases and transmissibility decreases. As the static load on the pallet increases the resonant frequency of the unit load decreases and the transmissibility increases. The survivability of a unitized product, sensitive to vibration, during shipping and distribution is affected by the pallet design. Pallets designed using rigid connections and stiffer decks will reduce damage to vibration-sensitive products.

Investigation of Vacuum and Steam Treatments to Heat Treat and Sanitize Firewood-Grade Ash Logs and Ash Firewood

Abstract The goal of this project was to investigate the efficacy of vacuum–steam technology to sanitize low-quality ash logs and ash firewood. It is difficult to heat treat logs and firewood because of the relatively large cross-sectional dimension. Compared with hot air, steam has a greater heat capacity, and the condensation, without reducing the moisture content of wood, results in more efficient heat transfer. Also, the pressure gradient created by the vacuum accelerates heat transfer through the wood cross section. The vacuum–steam system consists of a vacuum source, a controlling device, a flexible container, and a steam generator. The white ash logs and firewood were harvested in Montgomery, Virginia. Ash log diameters ranged from 16.5 to 27.9 cm on the small end. The logs were cut into lengths of 1.82 m. After the vacuum was drawn to 300 or 500 mm Hg inside the container, steam was injected into the container. The steaming continued until 56°C was reached at the center of the lengths. The treatme...

PCS: a pallet costing system for wood pallet manufacturers (version 1.0 for Windows®)

The Pallet Costing System (PCS) is a computer-based, Microsoft Windows® application that computes the total and per-unit cost of manufacturing an order of wood pallets. Information about the manufacturing facility, along with the pallet-order requirements provided by the customer, is used in determining production cost. The major cost factors addressed by PCS are raw materials, labor, machine, and manufacturing overhead. Combined with information on current market demands, this cost information can assist in establishing a selling price for a pallet. PCS also functions as a ?what-if? analysis tool, allowing pallet producers to evaluate the impact of changes in labor cost, species, processing steps, and other factors.